This summary of the 2014 Feedlot Operator Survey provides an overview of the survey results and further describes the growth opportunities and challenges in beef cattle production in Iowa. The conclusion states, "The future size and structure of the Iowa feedlot sector will be determined by the individual decisions of more than 6,000 feedlot operators. These owners are very diverse, not only in their operational characteristics, but also in their perceptions of the key factors influencing profitable and sustainable growth of the industry."

The project was conducted by the Iowa Beef Center, in collaboration with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.